Engero 22
1 Erinnya eddungi lyagalibwa okusinga eby’obugagga ebingi, n’okuganja kusinga ffeeza oba zaabu.
A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold—good grace.
2 Abagagga n’abaavu balina kimu ekibagatta, Mukama ye Mutonzi waabwe bonna.
Rich and poor have met together, YHWH [is] the Maker of them all.
3 Omuntu omutegeevu bw’alaba akabi yeekweka, naye abatalina magezi bagenda bugenzi mu maaso ne balumizibwa.
The prudent has seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
4 Obugagga n’ekitiibwa n’obulamu y’empeera ey’okwetoowazanga n’okutyanga Mukama.
The end of humility [is] the fear of YHWH, riches, and honor, and life.
5 Amaggwa n’emitego biri mu kkubo ly’omubambaavu; naye oyo akuuma emmeeme ye anaabyewalanga.
Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoever is keeping his soul is far from them.
6 Manyiiriza omwana mu kkubo erimugwanira okutambulirangamu, ne bw’alikula talirivaamu.
Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he does not turn from it.
7 Omugagga afuga abaavu, naye eyeewola aba muddu w’oyo amuwola.
The rich rules over the poor, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
8 Asiga obutali butuukirivu akungula mitawaana, n’oluga olw’obusungu bwe lulizikirizibwa.
Whoever is sowing perverseness reaps sorrow, And the rod of his anger wears out.
9 Omuntu omugabi anaabanga n’omukisa, kubanga emmere ye agirya n’abaavu.
The good of eye—he is blessed, For he has given of his bread to the poor.
10 Goba omunyoomi, entalo zinaagenda, ennyombo n’okuvumagana binaakoma.
Cast out a scorner—and contention goes out, And strife and shame cease.
11 Omuntu eyeegomba omutima omulongoofu era ayogera n’eggonjebwa, talirema kuganja ewa kabaka.
Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, His lips [are] grace, A king [is] his friend.
12 Amaaso ga Mukama galabirira amazima, era adibya entegeka z’abatali beesigwa.
The eyes of YHWH have kept knowledge, And He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13 Omugayaavu ayogera nti, “Ebweru eriyo empologoma,” oba nti, “Nnyinza okutemulirwa mu kkubo.”
The slothful has said, “A lion [is] outside, I am slain in the midst of the broad places.”
14 Malaaya mutego gwa kabi, akolimiddwa Mukama mw’afiira.
The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit, The abhorred of YHWH falls there.
15 Obusirusiru busibiddwa ku mutima gw’omwana omuto, naye omuggo ogukangavvula gulimuwonyeza ddala.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of discipline puts it far from him.
16 Omuntu atulugunya abaavu ne yeeyongera okugaggawala, n’oyo agabira omugagga awa abagagga enguzi, enkomerero ya bombi bwavu.
He [who] is oppressing the poor to multiply his [riches], Is giving to the rich—only to want.
17 Ossangayo omwoyo okuwuliriza ebigambo by’omugezi, n’omutima gwo eri ebyo bye njigiriza.
Incline your ear, and hear words of the wise, And set your heart to my knowledge,
18 Kibeera kya ssanyu bw’obikwata ku mutima gwo, n’oba mwetegefu okubiddamu byonna.
For they are pleasant when you keep them in your heart, They are prepared together for your lips.
19 Mbikumanyisa leero ggwe, obwesige bwo bubeerenga mu Mukama.
That your trust may be in YHWH, I caused you to know today, even you.
20 Kale sikuwandiikidde ebintu amakumi asatu ebikuwabula era ebikuwa okumanya?
Have I not written to you three times With counsels and knowledge?
21 Sikulaze ekirungi n’ekituufu, olyoke obe n’eky’okuddamu eri oyo eyakutuma?
To cause you to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending you.
22 Tonyaganga mwavu, kubanga mwavu, oba okutulugunyanga aleeteddwa mu mbuga.
Do not rob the poor because he [is] poor, And do not bruise the afflicted in the gate.
23 Kubanga Mukama alibawolereza, n’abo ababanyaga alibanyaga.
For YHWH pleads their cause, And has spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
24 Tokwananga muntu wa busungu, oba okuyitanga n’omuntu anyiiganyiiga amangu,
Do not show yourself friendly with an angry man, And do not go in with a man of fury,
25 oleme okuyiga amakubo ge ne weesuula mu mitawaana.
Lest you learn his paths, And have received a snare to your soul.
26 Teweegattanga ku abo abeeyama, newaakubadde ku abo abeeyimirira ab’amabanja.
Do not be among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
27 Bw’oliba nga tolina kya kusasula ekitanda kyo kyennyini kye kirikuggyibwako.
If you have nothing to pay, Why does he take your bed from under you?
28 Tojjululanga nsalo bajjajjaabo gye bassaawo edda.
Do not remove a border of ancient times, That your fathers have made.
29 Omanyi omuntu omunyiikivu era omukugu mu mulimu gwe? Aliweereza bakabaka; taliweereza bantu batamanyiddwa.
Have you seen a man speedy in his business? He stations himself before kings, He does not station himself before obscure men!
